John Of Gaunt Stakes: Timeform's runner-by-runner guide

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27 May 2022

There's a high-class card at Haydock on Saturday

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Timeform bring you their runner-by-runner guide to the John of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.

"...made his breakthrough at pattern level when landing this corresponding event last season..."

Timeform on Kinross

John of Gaunt Stakes
15:30 Haydock, Saturday
Live on ITV

1. Catch Twentytwo (Jane Chapple-Hyam/ David Egan)
Placed three times at Grade 1 level in South Africa last year but he's failed to beat a single rival on both starts for this yard. This is no easier.

2. Happy Power (Andrew Balding/ David Probert)
Ended a losing run in weaker company than he had been accustomed to keeping when landing a three-runner listed race at Leicester five weeks ago, quickening to lead under two furlongs out. Merits consideration for all this is obviously tougher.

3. Kinross (Ralph Beckett/ James Doyle)
Has shown smart form since being gelded, landing this corresponding event and the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood in 2021. Shaped better than the bare result when mid-field in a Group 1 at Ascot on his final start last season (finished with running left after twice being hampered) so is fancied to feature on return.

4. Laneqash (Roger Varian/ Jim Crowley)
Low-mileage four-year-old who posted excellent placed efforts over seven furlongs in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury and the Park Stakes at Doncaster. Ended last term with a solid fourth to Benbatl in the Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket and reappears after eight months off having been gelded.

5. Misty Grey (Tom Dascombe/ Richard Kingscote)
Smart performer on the all-weather and has been successful four times for this trainer at up to this trip. Posted a respectable effort on his first turf start since September 2020 in a listed contest over course and distance three weeks ago, but he's likely to come up short in this company.

6. Pogo (Charles Hills/ Kieran Shoemark)
Globetrotter in recent outings who was last seen finishing tailed off in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile at Meydan in March. Standout effort last season came when runner-up in the Group 2 Joel Stakes so he's not taken lightly if in the same mood back on European soil.

7. Spycatcher (Karl Burke/ Clifford Lee)
Has been consistent since landing a nine-runner listed race at Lingfield in February, holding his own when runner-up in Group 2 company at York earlier this month. Could get involved if they go hard up front.

8. Sunray Major (John & Thady Gosden/ Frankie Dettori)
Smart horse who resumed with a good fifth in a Group 2 at Sandown last month. Unable to land a blow upped further in grade when sixth behind Baaeed in the Lockinge at Newbury but he's in top hands and it's still early days.

Timeform Analyst Verdict

Kinross made his breakthrough at pattern level when landing this corresponding event last season and, with his final four-year-old start easily excused (hampered on more than one occasion), Ralph Beckett's charge can regain the winning thread provided he's ready to roll. Happy Power may provide the main threat having snapped a lengthy losing sequence in a listed event at Leicester recently, ahead of Sunray Major, in what looks an open renewal of this Group 3.

1. Kinross
2. Happy Power
3. Sunray Major